Contact: Jack Cardinal, (781) 960-5208

(BOSTON, MA) – To help Massachusetts enhance patient care in its Medicaid and CHIP programs (MassHealth), the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation at Community Catalyst (The Center) and Health Care For All (HCFA) have been selected to participate in the MassHealth Technical Assistance (TA) program to help the commonwealth’s Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and community partners integrate oral health with medical care. As a contracted TA vendor, Center and HCFA staff will now serve as a resource listed on the TA Marketplace serving ACOs and community partners.

“Oral health care is vital to health but medical providers often miss out on opportunities to address this important topic. The medical care system can play an important role in improving oral health and facilitating better access to oral health care,” said Ann Hwang, MD, director of The Center. “We’re excited to work with MassHealth to ensure that ACOs have the tools to integrate oral health into medical care.”

The Center brings its expertise and insight gained through years of state advocacy work through Community Catalyst’s Dental Access Project, an effort supporting state partners to promote medical-dental integration to ensure that all children and adults receive needed dental care, as well as its experience working with ACOs on program enhancements.

“Good oral health is critical to better overall health. But in many cases, deep siloes separate oral health from the medical care system,” said Amy Rosenthal, HCFA’s executive director. “HCFA is eager to work with the new MassHealth ACO program to bridge these domains and help build innovative two-way communication and care systems to lower costs, improve care and address health disparities.”

For three years, Health Care For All has been working with dental practices, community health centers and primary care providers to integrate dental care.

Center staff will work with Dr. Neetu Singh, who holds a Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Boston University and a Master of Public Health from Harvard University and currently directs the HCFA oral health policy platform, which includes providing technical assistance on integrating oral health into the broader health care delivery system in Massachusetts.

 

About the Center for Consumer Engagement In Health Innovation

The Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation at Community Catalyst is a hub devoted to teaching, learning and sharing knowledge to bring the consumer experience to the forefront of health innovation in order to deliver better care, better value and better health for every community, particularly vulnerable and historically underserved populations. The Center’s work is supported through investments in state and local advocacy, leadership development, research and evaluation, and consultative services to delivery systems and health plans. Visit healthinnovation.org or follow the Center on Twitter @CCEHI to learn more and follow our work.

About Health Care For All

Health Care For All (HCFA) is a non-profit advocacy group that envisions a Massachusetts in which everyone has the equitable, affordable, and comprehensive care they need to be healthy. Health Care For All promotes health justice in Massachusetts by working to reduce disparities and ensure coverage and access for all.

-###-